Chapter 2~

As soon as the elevator doors slid closed, Nel rushed into Grimmjow's office. She found her cousin sitting in his chair facing the window, deep in thought while absent-mindedly stroking Pantera. She hopped up next to him and examined his face with lively curiosity.

"Did he bring anymore of his tapes in?" She could tell that there wasn't any music in the player under his desk, but she was determined to listen to more samples of the music genius' work.

He grumbled, "Yeah, third drawer on the right." She smiled and skipped up to two black file cabinets, opening one of the drawers and fishing through the boxes until she came up to the one labeled, "King". Going back to the desk she popped her selected track in and pressed play.

Soft noise started, and not long after a deep male voice slipped through the melodies. Nel frowned, "This isn't like the stuff he sent in, this is like…different."

"Yeah he said something about this one, it was one his first recordings. All done in his apartment. Pretty amazing quality for it to be done in-house."

All the stuff Ichigo had sent in was hardcore dubstep, but Nel thought it was nice for a techno head to have a soft side too. More originality seemed to come out of those types.

Grimmjow watched a head of orange weave its way through the crowds on the sidewalk, 60 floors down. He couldn't seem to look away from it. As soon as it disappeared from his view, he listened to the voice coming through the speakers. It was an incredibly nice voice, it seemed to relax him the more he listened to it. The kid was good, almost too good. He frowned; he couldn't have had help, could he? From his friends, what were their names? Ruji and…Renkia? Whatever. He would have to watch Ichigo while he made one, just to make sure. Also there was no way he did that in his apartment. Unless he had a professional setup. It wasn't likely considering what a big secret it was. It was sure to be a huge hit; they had talked about a sample release, or a single of some sort, before the festival. It was only two months away, and Grimmjow was a little worried about the number of tracks the kid needed to make in order to fill the spots at the event. He would also have to talk to Nel about the lineup.

Speaking of Nel, she was swaying around the room with her eyes closed, twirling every couple of seconds. He could trust her, she had an incredible ear. He sighed and closed his sea blue eyes, big brown ones dancing on the back of his lids.

XXX

The door should have been the first sign; I should have paid more attention to it. The lamp should have been the second. It was on, and I always, always turned all of them off. I was so exhausted that it wasn't until I had sat myself down and stared straight at it, the big blank space where Kon used to be.

It was gone.

Wait, what? I'm pretty sure the thing was there when I left for the meeting. Someone must have…shit.

I whipped out my phone and hovered my thumbs over the keyboard, trying to figure out what to do. Text Renji first, we'll figure this out.

Well damn. Ren, I'm gonna need you to come over ASAP.

A reply was quick to come, probably because it was just a single letter; k. I sat on my couch, after I had sent the same message to Rukia, and tried to collect my thoughts.

When the two arrived together, Renji was fuming. I could almost see the smoke drifting out of his ears. No doubt I had interrupted the two in their sexual adventures, but I think that this might have been a little more important. Rukia looked a little flustered, from the sex or from trying to calm Renji down I don't know, and she hurriedly sat down to my left.

"So, you call us over here for a reason, or are you just getting lonely?" Renji spat, beginning to go through his usual routine of kicking off his shoes then going over to turn up the music. Only the music player was missing, so he ran straight into the wall. "Fucking hell! What the hell is this?"

Rukia snapped her head to where Renji was, and I swear her eyes almost popped out of her skull. "Umm…Ichigo? Kon's missing."

I solemnly nodded my head once and mumbled a barely audible, "yeah" before resting my head on the back of the couch, effectively averting my eyes up to the ceiling. I could feel both of their gazes on me, but I just closed my eyes and tried to block everything out.

"Ichigo, are you okay?"

"I don't know," I replied honestly. I could feel the pit of anger growing in my chest, but I didn't want to be angry. I wanted to be rocking out to whatever new track I had finished with my two best friends. This shouldn't be happening. Things had just gotten good too, I had a record deal and I was going to be playing in a couple months at the biggest summer music festival in the area. On June 17th, but I tried not to dwell on that fact right now. Right now I needed to focus on the theft that had happened just moments ago.

"Rukia, get me my pad of paper, it should be on the file cabinets in my studio." I asked. I heard footsteps retreating down the hall, and then what seemed to be a stifled scream. Renji stopped pounding the rug into oblivion from his footsteps and looked down the hall. I had opened my eyes, and again stared at the blank white ceiling.

"ICHIGO," Rukia came running back into the living room, and tugged on my arm, "Ichigo, come. You have to see this."

I grunted as she tugged on my arm, "What for?"

She sighed, "Come on. You're such a stubborn brat sometimes, you know that?" I nodded my head slowly and she sighed in frustration again. "Ichigo, it's your stuff, all your equipment, it's…you should come see for yourself."

Well shit. I assumed she was talking about it getting stolen along with Kon, but when I looked into the small space, I could see I was totally wrong.

You know that feeling when you're so mad, you just want to sit down and cry? Well, that's where I was in that moment, looking at all the little smashed up pieces that were once worth thousands, if not tens of thousands, of dollars. Now all the worth of what I could see was maybe $50 at the scrap yard. I opened my mouth to start a string of colorful curses that I had collected over the years, but my breath caught in my throat and I stood there gaping like a fish out of water.

The rest of the night was tense, Renji called the police to report the breaking-and-entering only to find that they couldn't come and investigate until tomorrow afternoon. Meanwhile, all my anger had melted into a depression that settled over me like a cold, wet blanket. I locked the door to the spare bedroom, and laid down on my own mattress in the other.

I felt the need to break down in tears, but instead decided on making a list. My notepad was still in the other room, so I settled on a mental one for now.

Lists had always helped in my life, especially when things had gotten hectic. I don't make them often, but when I do it settles my brain and its need to make impulsive decisions. My list started out with the phone calls that needed to be made. I could start there, but I could wait until morning. I could tell my family and my boss about the event tomorrow. That would also mean explaining my whole…situation with his father, and I was so not looking forward to that.

I could hear muffled talking in the other room, along with the couch being folded out. Feeling a little better about my situation with my friends' right there, I stripped and climbed under the covers ready for a night of peaceful slumber.

It didn't come, I kept tossing and turning until I finally gave up and left the bedroom. Renji and Rukia were tangled up together in the sheets, completely unconscious. I let a little smile grace my lips. I was so happy for them, even though I was starting to feel like the third wheel in the situation. Then again, I was never the star of anything that was always Renji. Him being a soccer wizard and whatnot, there was simply no room for me in that position. I made my way over to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water along with a small snack consisting of an apple. I also grabbed my work computer from the coffee table that had been pushed out of the way. I was glad they didn't have the mind to take that while I was out, because then me and Ilforte would have to re-build our business from the ground up.

I took everything back to my room, and set myself up for a long night of insomnia-induced work.

Five long hours later, my eyelids finally started to droop downwards. I shut off my laptop and moved it aside so I could finally get some rest.

I woke up late the next morning, or should I say afternoon, to the sound of Rukia knocking softly on my open door. I grunted, and she walked in and I could feel the bed dip slightly with the weight of her small frame.

"Ichigo, you've been asleep for a while. I think it's about time that you wake up."

I groaned and asked with a sleepy voice, "What time is it?"

"It's almost one. Time to get up, sleepyhead."

"…whaaaa?" I must have stayed up later than I realized. I needed to…oh yeah, my stuff.

"The police are going to be here in 20 minutes, I think. You should probably take a shower and get ready."

I nodded and slowly lifted my torso off the bed and stretched out, feeling satisfied as I heard several joints pop back into place.

"Yeah I'll," my voice got cut off by the large yawn that tore from my lungs demanding air. She nodded in understanding and left me to my own devices. I was glad for the alone time, as now I had to face the tragedy that had happened. No more work to distract me from the sadness that had decided to reside inside me, I shuffled to the bathroom to take a quick shower before getting ready for the rest of the day.

It went by in a blur, and I put off my phone calls as long as possible. We had gotten kicked out after our interviews so they could do their work, and we ended up just strolling about one of the parks near the complex.

"You think they'll find him?" Renji asked, wrapping his arm around Rukia's waist.

I simply shrugged, and continued walking. I had more important things on my mind. Like how someone could have gotten in my apartment? The only people who had keys were me and Isshin. I could ask him later…when I called him. I gave a mental groan on displeasure and sat down on the first park bench we passed.

"Ichigo?" Rukia asked, "Are you okay Ichi?" I gave her a small nod of my head, hating the fact that I was lying to her. I was not okay. It seemed like the more I thought about anything, the bigger the pit on my stomach grew.

"Yeah, Ichigo, you're not looking so hot." Renji stated. They both stood in front of me like an old worried couple. I chuckled at the thought and I guess he took it as me laughing at his statement because he just shrugged his shoulders and said, "We're gonna go get some ice cream, you wanna come?" I shook my head again.

"Hey, you sure you're okay?" Rukia said as she squatted to meet me at eye level, or as close as she could get.

"Yeah guys, I'm fine. Just go and get your sugar." They both wandered off at that, Rukia throwing me worried looks over her shoulder for a ways.

Now I was completely alone. There wasn't anyone in the park because it was a Tuesday, and I had no intentions of finding company. I closed my eyes and held my head in my hands. The pit grew, and I was bombarded with snapshots of me and my friends.

There was the time when I had just gotten the stereo, and my two best friends had helped me move it in. Renji and I did most of the moving though. There was the time when we all had a little too much to drink and Kon had gotten its name. That was also the same night Renji has kissed Rukia. There was the weekend that I ripped up my apartment to get the wiring done for the new speakers, I could still picture my landlords face perfectly. It's not a face you could easily forget. I couldn't count how many times Renji had cussed out the stereo, but all of those moments flashed for my viewing too.

Then there were ones of just me and my studio. Me and my music. Me and my life. I had so many tracks there were two file cabinets bursting with them in my bedroom. I remember back when I was still going to the university and I was still trying to get the studio set up. I knew a few things about the equipment and had a little trouble getting it all at a price I liked. But once I had, it was beautiful. It was always kept in supreme shape; there were countless things I could have achieved in that small space. An old desk had turned into what could be considered a wet dream for some people. There was always something whirring or spinning or blinking. It was a 24/7 project and I loved every minute of it.

Music was always my stress reliever; I could make music anytime of the day, any day of the week. If it were still in working condition, I could have used it right about now. I needed the release, the calm that I felt when I made something beautiful out of nothing. I knew it was the dirt that I needed to fill the growing hole of sorrow inside me. I needed my machines like an addict needed his pills.

Trying to bring myself out of my thought induced stupor; I decided to slowly make my way back to my apartment. I hadn't realized how dark it had gotten; I must have been sitting on that bench for hours. According to my phone it was nearing 8:30, and I quickened my pace towards home.

Not that I wanted to be there, the crushed equipment only dug the hole deeper with each thought I had. Maybe I could crash at Renji's, or not considering he probably already has one house guest. Maybe I could stay at Goat Face's establishment. I'll ask him when I call later. That has to get done too; my night is going to be hell just talking to the old man.

Reaching my apartment, I walked in on a police officer who was waiting for me. We said both hellos and goodbyes, and a promise to keep in touch with updates on the investigation. After the door shut behind him I dialed the home number, hoping Karin or Yuzu would pick up instead of my dad.

I was not so fortunate because a distinctly male voice came over the phone, "Ichigo? What are doing calling this late? Did you want to say goodnight to the girls?"

I decided to start with the easy stuff and asked, "Hey can I crash at home for a little while?"

"Why would you want to do that? Do you miss your daddy?"

I cut him off before he could start the childish act, "No, uhh…something happened over here and I don't want to say at the apartment. I'm not sure it's safe."

"My boy! Do tell your father what happened!"

"…there was a break-in, my stereo got stolen and some of my stuff was smashed up…"

The comment seemed to silence him out of the act-like-a-child-when-there's-children facade. "Ichigo? What happened? What got destroyed?"

"I had a meeting, and when I came home everything was just…well they only took my stereo but all my…equipment looked like it was taken to with a chainsaw."

"Ichigo, of course you can stay here. If you ever need anything, your family has your back."

I gave a little smile even though he couldn't see it, "yeah, thanks, Dad. I'll be over in a little bit."

We hung up and I was glad I avoided that disaster, for now. There was almost enough guilt to add to my quickly deepening hole, and there was definetly enough nervousness to have the shovel ready.

I quickly packed a bag for a couple days and started the long walk over there.

Halfway through, my dad's car pulled up beside me so I stopped and gave the man in the driver's seat a questioning look.

"Come on boy, I'm not letting you walk." I nodded and opened the door, setting my stuff in the back seat.

The first two minutes of the car ride were silent. I could feel the tension of an unasked question between us, but I guess he didn't feel like asking. Or at least, I thought he wasn't gonna ask.

"So the stuff that got smashed, was it stuff for your work?"

I contemplated the question, trying to figure out the answer myself. Was it for work? I guess you could consider it work. For some people it would be. I guess if I get paid, its work, right? I'm definetly getting paid for my music. When me and Grimmjow had talked numbers the other day, they were big numbers. So I guess it was work.

"Yeah. It was for work."

"Was it programs? What exactly get smashed?"

I took a deep breath and tried to remember all the things that used to be worth so much. It pained me to say through gritted teeth, "It was other work. I had all my equipment in that room. All of it got destroyed." I couldn't help but feel like destroyed was a fitting word, "Obliterated." That sounded better.

"I get that, but were there specific things that got…obliterated?" I couldn't see my dad's face; I was sitting straight up and staring at the road ahead. I didn't catch the confused trace of emotion that flashed across his face, nor could I see the worry that he held for me. I couldn't see that he noticed the sadness, the emptiness that I had adopted that night.

"Yeah I can make a list of it all when we get home." I had disregarded my apartment as 'home' the minute I stepped in two nights ago. Home was where I could feel safe, and for now it was the Clinic. Maybe it wouldn't be for long, but for at least a couple nights it could.

My dad backed off after that, his curiosity satisfied for the moment. We rode in silence for the rest of the way, and I mentally thanked my dad for the ride because when we got out of the warm haven that was the car, it was freezing. When I got my bag out of the backseat I could feel the cold nipping at my legs while my arms were wrapped in the welcome heat.

"Ichi-nii!" I heard Yuzu call, her voice still just as innocent as last time I had visited. I gave her a quick hug on my way upstairs, greeting Karin when I passed her in the living room wrapped up in a cup of hot cocoa and her favorite anime.

Too tired to shower, I climbed up the stairs and laid down on the narrow bed, thinking about what I had lost.

Things had just gotten good too. I had two jobs that I loved, I had two best friends who supported me, and I had my apartment broken into and my favorite things in the whole world either stolen or smashed. That last one just didn't fit in with the rest of them. Why did this have to happen to me?

The only noise for the next three hours was the soft ticking of the clock. It was a depressing reminder that time would not stop for me, and that it would keep going on, and people would continue as they usually would, and that I was just that much more insignificant in the whole scheme of things.

My phone rang then, breaking the quiet of the old bedroom.

Picking it up, I checked the display then greeted my boss solemnly "Hey Grimmjow, I…uh...have some news…"

A/N: HI! Nice to meet you all:) I would hope you guys have time to review because this is my first fan fiction and I want some feedback other than my Beta's. Please, tell me how you like it?
~CBC